Pictures of Prestissimo in San Juan Islands t Articles on Prestissimo
latest update 02/18/2008 (This site is being updated to reflect "as built". Some sections still reflect "design ideas")
t
904 Dorothea Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603 t 919-828-6068
| LOA = 42' 8" (13m) LWL = 36' 8" (11.2m) Hull Speed 8.15 kts. (SQRT(LWL)*1.34) Beam = 12' 3.5" (3.75) Displacement = 11,500 lbs (5216kg) Disp/Length = 104 Vertical Clearance 62' (18.9m) Keel Ballast - 5,073 lbs (2301kg) |
Draft keel up = 4' (1.22m) Keel down = 8' (2.44m) Minimum sailing draft = 5' Sail Area 1087 sq ft (101 sq m) Main =722 sq ft (67.1 sq m) Jib = 360 sq ft (33.4 sq m) SailArea/Disp = 35.3 (SA/(Disp/64)^0.666) |
This boat is designed to be a Performance Cruiser. Thus it must strike a balance between performance and comfort, light weight and ruggedness, power and simplicity.
Some of the key features that make this boat unique are:
A 5,000 lb lifting keel which will provide excellent performance when extended to 8' draft, moderate performance at 6' draft, and allow for motoring into water only 5' deep. The keel can be adjusted when under way, but not under sailing loads (like raising sails) with the use of manual winches that can be converted to power winches.
A carbon fiber unstayed mast. This flexible mast yields under gusts so sails can be carried into higher winds. When the mast rebounds after a gust it returns some of the stored energy as acceleration. While the rig will weigh about the same as a standard rig it will have much less maintenance as there are no shrouds or spreaders. There will be running backstays to keep the jib luff tight when close hauled, but they are not required for structural support.
An electric motor for propulsion that can generate power to charge its battery bank while sailing. The batteries are clustered in front of the keel, providing additional ballast and about two hours of full power for the motor. There is also a 4.5kw genset that can recharge the batteries and will provide for continuous motoring when necessary.
A recirculating shower will accommodate a 40 minute hot shower using stored heat and only 2 quarts of water. Two quarts of clean water are used for each shower, and at the end of the shower you use soap and discard the water as you rinse the soap off.
A composting toilet for solid wastes produces a batch of clean, odor free mulch monthly. The holding tank only needs to accommodate liquids without any flush water so pump-outs can be infrequent and clogging of the lines isn't an issue.
A flexible modular design that facilitates maintenance and modifications of existing systems as well as installation of additional systems as the needs arise.
Tom Wylie of Thomas Wylie Design Group designed the hull and keel, structural components, and the sail and deck plan. Jim Betts built the hull, and Tom Wylie built the deck from existing molds and then shipped them to Schooner Creek. Schooner Creek Boat Works was responsible for the construction of the keel, rudders, prop shaft, and structural components of the interior. Joseph Huberman was responsible for the interior, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, electronics and power systems.
Joseph worked daily with one to three members of the Schooner Creek team during the 18 months of construction. Different craftsmen helped depending on the type of work being done at the time. The whole team came out to watch the launch.
The boat should be fun to sail
Systems should be simple and straight forward
Maintenance and access should be easy
Design flexibility should should encourage continued modification and improvement
Complete self-sufficiency is a goal
Efficient use of power for basic systems
Survivability under the worst circumstances
Interior furnishings should be part of the integral structure whenever possible
As much as possible, lines should be clean and uncluttered
